37 race days
20 one-day races
4 stage races
4 victories
1 intermediate sprint win
6 punctures
Countless rides up the Torgon climb next to the UCI World Cycling Centre
Priceless experience!
Throughout this year, the distinctive kit of the UCI Women’s Continental Team representing the UCI World Cycling Centre (WCC) could be seen in races in Spain, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Italy. Aged between 19 and 27, the eight members of the WCC Team come from eight countries and met for the first time at the beginning of this year.
It is widely known that the aim is to help team members gain racing experience in Europe, develop as riders and lay the foundations for a possible Elite racing career. But who exactly are these talented young women? Their coach and Sport Director Cristina San Emeterio gives us a brief insight into each, very valuable, member of the 2022 WCC Team.
Natalia Franco (Colombia)
Cristina San Emeterio: She is a natural climber, and skilled rider on all kinds of terrain. Her undoubted highlight of the season was earning her first UCI points thanks to a top-20 placing in the Class 1 Durango - Durango Emakumeen Saria in Spain on 17 May. Two days later the WCC Team lined up for their first UCI Women’s WorldTour event, the Vuelta a Burgos Feminas where Natalia spent a large part of stage 2, together one other cyclist, riding between the front breakaway group and the peloton. That is when she really started to believe in herself. It is difficult to stay in good shape all season, but Natalia was able to.
Selam Amha Gerefiel (Ethiopia)
CSE: If you ask her if she is a sprinter, she will say no. If you ask her if she is a climber, she will say no. But she can do it all. Despite some health problems this season she had developed incredibly. Compared to when she arrived at the UCI World Cycling Centre, she’s a very different Selam. She’s extremely determined and focused when she is on the bike and will not be intimidated. Next year she will try to fight for wins and to earn points.
Veronika Jandova (Czech Republic)
CSE: Veronika won her first race of 2022 – the Copa Mediterrània - Hyundai Koryo Car in Spain – and was also fantastic support for the team in stage races, securing the team at the front, staying in breakaways and closing gaps. She gained confidence and maturity throughout the season and finally realised she really is a cyclist. After three seasons at the UCI World Cycling Centre, she will discover new horizons in 2023 with another UCI Women’s Continental Team.
Yumi Kajihara (Japan)
CSE: Her goal was to improve her endurance for track racing, gain experience and win some sprints. She achieved those goals! The 2020 UCI World Champion in the Omnium on the track, and silver medallist in the same specialty at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, enjoyed good results throughout the season as she juggled road racing and track racing. She leaves the team in 2023.
Diana Lebedz (Belarus)
CSE: She is young (20) but very, very strong. Like Veronika she is a good team player, always thinking about her teammates, trying to find them in the peloton and push them to the front. She’s good and she is smart. Her standout performance came in the opening team time trial at the CIC-Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées where every time she went to the front, the team sped up. She stayed in front a long time and often. The WCC Team beat major teams in that time trial to finish in 6th place. Diana continued her outing in the Pyrénées as strongly as she started, replying to many attacks in the following stages.
Madelaine Le Roux (South Africa)
CSE: A very strong rider, Madelaine won her second race of the season – a round of the Copa Mediterrània – after being in the breakaway. But coming from triathlon, she was not used to rubbing shoulders in a big bunch of women so riding in the peloton was one of her weaknesses. Whenever possible, she was on the UCI World Cycling Centre’s pump track or cyclo-cross track to get her skill level on a par with her fantastic physical condition. The progress she made throughout the season was very impressive and came to light at the Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l'Ardèche at the beginning of September where she improved at each stage.
Luciana Roland (Argentina)
CSE: Luciana leads by example. She is a brave rider, the perfect domestique and not afraid of attacking. If she tries a move in a race, her teammates are reassured and try to follow suit. Always smiling and happy, she believes in the team. Also a mountain biker, she proved herself on the road and won an intermediate sprint at La Picto-Charentaise in France. She is brave, a good domestique and knows how to choose the best moments to go for the breakaway or intermediate sprint.
Elina Tasane (Estonia)
CSE: At 19, Elina is the youngest of the WCC Team but when you see her on the bike, you forget she’s young. She has good skills – maybe from doing some cyclo-cross – and has realised that she can climb as well. She will start 2023 with a good mentality and fight for victories.
With the departure of Yumi Kajihara and Veronika Jandova, the WCC Team will welcome a few new members as they embark on their second season together. It will be a year of consolidation according to Cristina San Emeterio, who is proud of the progress they made together.
“It was during the race in the French Pyrénées that you could notice they were really working together as a team. From the car I could see them communicating and working things out together. That was a turning point,” says their coach. “They improved a lot, and they can improve more. I am sure next year will be a good one for them!”
Photo credit: Bruno Lavit